For 40 years, Backstreet Cafe has been a Houston dining tradition. It has grown from a "watering hole" with soups, salads, and sandwiches to a critically acclaimed, chef-driven Seasonal American Bistro that is a top table in the city. Always innovating, always updating, Backstreet Cafe has served generations of families and is a communal place to celebrate special occasions and every day with food, friends, and family.
The kitchen is under the direction of award-winning Executive Chef Hugo Ortega, whose American Dream started at this neighborhood cafe. He began his career in the restaurant business at Backstreet Cafe, first as dishwasher and busboy and later as a line cook before graduating from Houston Community College's culinary program and later becoming its executive chef and owner, along with wife Tracy Vaught. A former geologist, Vaught decided to forsake the oil business for a more people-oriented profession and opened Backstreet Cafe, her first restaurant, in 1983. Together, they have created an award-winning Houston restaurant family that also includes Hugo's, Caracol and Xochi in Houston, and a partnership in Origen in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Backstreet Cafe's menu is a perfect reflection of diverse Houston, with Southern, Cajun, Creole, Hispanic and Asian influences, among others. The menu changes seasonally to capture the freshest flavors, with a nod to local and sustainable ingredients. Backstreet Café is famous for its Sunday brunch, complete with live Jazz, great food, and eye-opening cocktails! The wine and spirits program is well-known throughout the city and beyond for its depth and creativity, a perfect accompaniment to the menu.
Housed in a cozy '30s-era house in Houston's River Oaks, Backstreet Cafe affords diners several cozy dining areas on two levels. The downstairs dining room features a large marble-top bar, intimate banquette seating, and views of both the front and back patio areas. Upstairs, the restaurant has two dining rooms for brunch, lunch and dinner seating and private functions. The Solarium is a wonderful room for everyday dining and private functions, separated from the main upstairs dining room by French doors.
One of Backstreet's most popular attractions is its legendary patio. More often than not, diners opt to eat on the New Orleans-style patio amidst of flowering shrubbery and welcoming fountain. Backstreet Cafe is your home away from home.
Reviews for Backstreet Cafe
Backstreet Cafe received an average rating of 4.39 out of 5 stars from 18 reviews.
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by Artturi on 3/1/2021
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by Petur on 7/19/2021
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by Glenna on 3/23/2021
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by Hormizd on 5/20/2021
Backstreet cafe's quaint renovated two-story home sports a sizeable deck in the backyard, which sings during the jazz brunch every Sunday. Backstreet's favorite entrees are joined by such breakfast traditions as gingerbread waffles;… Read Full Editorial
My Review by fd1234620513 via Citysearch on 7/6/2014
We just had a very negative experience at BS which makes this our first and last visit there.\r
First there is the so called 'lovely patio': this means 5 tables, on an uneven brick floor, with no fan, overseeing the ever chatting…
My Review by TheBestCritic via Citysearch on 6/17/2013
Should have won best of brunch in Houston!!! Instead a lame coffee shop got it.
If the weather's nice,make sure to sit by ambernambrose via Citysearch on 4/23/2012
If the weather's nice,make sure to sit on the back patio. The cocktails are seasonal and the vegetarian options are some of the best.
Love it by AliciaH via Citysearch on 8/5/2011
First of all I must say I was very well treated. The whole time I was kept on thinking that they have an amazing staff. The food was delicous. I will def come back with my friends.
The Best for me! by StafforshireLuv via Citysearch on 5/1/2011
A friend/neighbor of mine gave me a gift card for Xmas. My daughter, husband and myself went there for lunch, and it was amazing. I'm drolling just thinking about it.
overpriced and dropping quality by crivio via Citysearch on 3/2/2011
This use to be one of my favorite spot in houston to take friends out. After spending a year living and traveling in europe, I come back to the city and find very obvious change in the chef of the restaurant. The menu is tremendously…
Be prepared to wait... by cookingmama69 via Citysearch on 10/31/2010
Happened to bring some close friends who were visiting town and needed a good breakfast/brunch spot. We wanted to sit out on the patio but it would have been an "hour to two hour wait." It took some time to get our tables situated in the…
For Crab Cake! by food snobs via Citysearch on 6/7/2010
I wish we would have reviewed this immediately, but totally forgot. We had a good experience with a very attentive and knowledgeable wait staff. The only draw back was we were the only table in a room with 1 very large party of some sort…
great patio by cmk1126 via Citysearch on 2/6/2010
I seriously dig this place.
Quaint Cafe by juliainhouston via Citysearch on 1/19/2010
Been here a few times over the years, finally got around to reviewing it. I keep coming back because the food is consistently good and I love the atmosphere. It is a charming cafe with a lovely patio area, great place for a date or family…
Everything's Perfect! by ciadave2002 via Citysearch on 11/30/2009
Well after living in Houston for 5 years and discovering Backstreet pretty early on I can say its fantastic. I've never had a bad experience and my wife and I have been close to 30 times. The food is delicious, seared scallops always…
Amazing Saturday Brunch by enitsirhc via Citysearch on 10/25/2009
Great outdoor sitting area. Spinach souffle was delicious! Our server was professional and attentive as well.
Great Courtyard Dinning! by Brandon F via Insider Pages on 8/14/2009
Great place for lunch or dinner. Gourmet menu and beautiful courtyard dinning. My favorite is the lobster sandwich (it is to die for). Go with a group and have a relaxing Sunday brunch!
Just perfect by danielg69 via Citysearch on 7/12/2009
This was my 2nd time to Backstreet and it was amazing once again. The crab cakes are the best I have ever had. Service was excellent and the price was very reasonable for the quality of the food. Thanks for the great night out!
OMG! by obika via Citysearch on 8/6/2008
Oh my god where do I begin???? First of all the restaurant is incredibly cute. The food is sooooo good and the service is even better. Our waiter, I think his name was Jose, was very knowledgable and answered all of my questions about the…
Wonderful experience by txbrowneyedgirl via Citysearch on 7/20/2008
I went to Backstreet for my birthday dinner with my family and boyfriend. We showed up a few minuted after our reservation time and we were still seated promptly. The waitress was very nice and extremely helpful in helping us decide…
EXCESSIVELY LOUD for Sunday brunch by Kingwoodgirl via Citysearch on 7/14/2008
No more Sunday brunch here -- TOO LOUD!!! Although I have been a fan of Backstreet Cafe for years, I will definitely think twice before venturing there again for Sunday brunch. Our visit this past Sunday (12:30 reservation for 7) was…
Fine meal and even finer service. by fussyhubby via Citysearch on 6/20/2008
Innovative and very tasty treatment of home favorites, excellent service, helpful waiters, large variety of wine choices. Set in a rambling but cozy, well-decorated old house. Went on a rainy night, so the patio wasn't in use, but it…
Great Local restaurant that would be great for out of Town Guests by bigdaddylynn via Citysearch on 3/17/2008
My wife and I have eaten at backstreet for Sunday brunch on a number of occassions and we have always had an enjoyable meal on the patio with great service. We recently had the opportunity to go for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed…
Consistently Great Food by Sunshine72 via Citysearch on 1/9/2008
At the end of December, my boyfriend and I dined here on a Friday night. He was hesitant about going for very silly reasons, but I persuaded him nonetheless since it's one of my favorite spots in Houston. He ordered one of the popular…
